dexronIII, max life atf, type f?

[pjc360]

Trying to decide between them 3 fluids, truck is a 1991 dodge ram half ton short bed, 360 magnum engine, transmission is the 4 speed overdrive A-518 transmission. i'll be using the truck pretty much for everything, except i wont be hauling heavy loads or pulling heavy trailors that much at all. it will be used as a play truck, to go hunting with, and just use a daily driver basically.
I am trying to decide between regular dexronIII wich if i did decide on that i'd run the valvoline brand dexronIII, and the Valvoline MaxLife ATF or the valvoline type f atf? my transmission was fully re-built about 500 miles ago and when i put 1000 miles on it i have to flush all the fluid out and put new fluid in it and a new filter. so trying to decide those are the 3 fluids i have narrowed it down too.

 

[oggb]

I'd probably go for ATF+3 or ATF+4. If neither of those were available, Maxlife.

 

[DutchBrad]

I just replaced my 1996 Chevy Astro ATF (4L60E - 106k) - I put the Walmart Super Tech Dex III back in. A mechanic friend of mine helped me with the redneck flush (dropped the pan, replaced the filter, then pulled a trans cooler line and ran around 12-14 quarts through to flush out the old fluid). Walmart had the gallon jugs here in MI for $10.50 - that is plain Dex III and it seems to shift just fine. Some of that ATF is expensive stuff.... I plan on having this fluid in there another 50k or so. I only put around 5k per year on the van, have the biggest cooler I could find, tow a 26 foot trailer just a few times each summer. Old fluid had 50k miles on it (10 years old), my friend said the fluid was not bad at all, not much clutch material in the pan either. I was very happy.

 

[sciphi]

Did the original transmission specify ATF+3? If so, I'd use the licensed ATF+4. It's all-around a good spec.

 

[pjc360]

atf + type 7176 didnt come out untill 1994 then atf+3 came out in 1996 then atf+4 came out in 2001 or 2002, factory fill in this transmission back in 1991 was dexronIII. I would consider the +3 myself but cant find it anymore, only 1 company still makes it and thats amalie, guy who re-built my transmission orders 55 gallon drums of +3 from amalie, thats what he says is in my transmission right now, but i wouldnt be suprised if it was a universal atf or even dexronIII.
He told me dexronIII and atf+3 are the only fluids i should run in it, he said synthetics is a bad idea? wich i do not know why?? and he also said anyone who runs type f in a torque flight is an idiot, wich i know that he is wrong on that subject because some of the smartest mopar guys i know run type f in there cars and trucks. I was wanting to run dexronVI it is compatible for anything calling for dexronIII just like +4 can be used in +3 applications but he said no to synthetics? and he and a bunch of other knowledgable people i know reccomended to me that i do not use +4 because +4 has alot of friction modifyers that my transmission does not need since i have a non lock up converter and my transmission is still hydraulically operated.
So i am trying to decide between dexronIII or max life Dexron or type f. i know the max life is a synthetic? or a synthetic blend? i just dont see why he said no to synthetics? i have always heard they are better but what do i know? all i know is the smartest mopar guys i know run type f in the torque flights and i know +4 has to be used in all dodge ram truck transmissions 2001 and newer? at least thats what i have been told. but my transmission did not get atf + of any kind because it didnt even excist in 1991.

 

[partspro]

Oops edit the post. Type F has limited friction modifiers, hence the highest friction suitable for brass clutches in old C4/C6 transmissions. ATF+4 is quite highly modified (lower friction) for transmissions with paper/fiber and possibly even carbon fiber clutches. Note that some rebuilders are using paper/fiber in C4/C6 transmissions and are using Dex3 IIRC.

If the decision were mine I'd go with Maxlife.

 

[pjc360]

ya i am considering the max life, i have heard its a very good atf, i just cant understand why my re-builder said no to synthetics? he said dexronIII +3 or a universal atf.
I was wanting to run dexronVI but he said oh dont run that, thats a synthetic, like it was a bad thing? and i have talked to a few people running dexronVI in the torque flights and they like it and its worked well for them? maybe he is one of them old scholl guys who dont believe synthetics are worth the extra money.

 

[crazyoildude]

the max life dexron 3 is my favorite

 

[pjc360]

do you run the max life dexIII in a overdrive chrysler transmission?

 

[Maritime Storm]

Type 7176 was introduced on the Ultradrive in 1989, 2 Chrysler's current specification for your transmission is ATF+4. The original fluid spec will be written on the dipstick, also the fluid level has to be set in neutral not park on most mopar transmisions.

 

[pjc360]

oh, well my dip stick says dexIII on it, i dont think they applied the mopar type 7176 to the A-518's or it would have said it on my dip stick.
what fluid to use in the chrysler A-518 is the most confusing topic ever because so many people say you can run all sorts of different fluids in it. Mopar says +4 but before +4 ever exsisted it was dexronIII and other people run type f in them and universal fluids and synthetic fluids, its just a confusing topic there is no correct fluid it seems like it because it will run on anything apparently.

 

[Maritime Storm]

My 1990 D250 CTD/A-727 called for Type7176 on the dipstick, seems funny Mopar would have back spec'd to Dexron III on the later transmission. On a side note, my A-727 had ATF+4 in it the entire time my father & later myself owned it, previous owner had done the same to my knowledge, this particular truck spent the first 10 years of it's life hauling a 30' travel trailer. Dad wouldn't hesitate to haul stone with it when needed, heviest thing I hauled with was my sailboat(4500lbs), fluid was changed every 30K kms originally by the dealer and later by myself. We never had an issue with the transmission on it. However, on a newly rebuilt transmission calling for a Dexron/Mercon fluid, I'd be looking at a synthetic such as Mobil 1, Amsoil, or Redline. ATF+4 surperceded ATF+3 which superceded ATF+2 which superceded ATF+ which superceded Type7176, each becoming more friction modified in an attempt to keep their FWD transaxles alive.

 

[pjc360]

so what your saying is run the max life atf? the max life says its a dex/merc fluid on the bottle, but when i called and talked to a valvoline fluid tech, he told me the max life atf is a fully synthetic universal atf that would be fine to use in the A-518. only thing concerning me is the transmission shop who re-built my transmission said to run +3 or dexIII no type f no +4 no synthetics.... wich i do not know why.

 

[pjc360]

is there a particular reason not to run a synthetic atf? i thought synthetic anything was better? i just dont understand why my builder said no to synthetics? he didnt say it would void my warranty or anything, he was just pretty much giving me his opinion and he said i'd run dexIII or +3 no type f no synthetics?
Confuses me, i'd like to run type f in it, is there any reason type f would perform any different in the A-518 then it performs in the A-727?

 

[SteveSRT8]

ATF4 is a blended product with a very particular standard.

I'd stick with it.

 

[MolaKule]

Quote:
well my dip stick says dexIII on it


Are you sure it is the original dipstick?

I find that not all reduilders are lubrication savy.

You might try http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=53&pcid=9

 

[pjc360]

yes dipstick says dexIII and my haynes repair manual says dexIII or mopar type 7176. i'm looking into running type f, Valvoline MaxLife, or reg dexIII, i dont have the money for them high class synthetics like amsoil, redline, royal purple ect.
if i was running a drag racing supercharged drag car with an auto then i'd deffanatly consider the high class synthetics.. but i have had really good luck with valvoline products.